GALLERY: Hundreds gather to pay respects to armed forces in Bognor

The town's Royal British Legion members were joined by serving troops from the Army, Navy and RAF in honouring the nation's fallen heroes.

They also came in recognition of the efforts of our forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan '“ where more than 200 soldiers have died in the past two years.

The parade, which was attended by Arun District Council vice-chief executive Ian Sumnall and vice-chairman Cllr Dudley Wensley, ran from Clifton Road to the town's war memorial.

Colin Holden, club secretary of Bognor Regis Royal British Legion, said residents and former service personnel alike had felt it important to turn out to show their support in spite of poor weather on the day.

He said: "The remembrance service seems to draw a larger crowd every year and the Help for Heroes campaign seems to have made a difference in people coming out to support troops who are serving now."

Mr Holden, who served in the Navy during the Suez Canal crisis in the 1950s, added: "The service itself on Sunday was very good and I think it's very important for people to remember those who have lost their lives.

"I have two cousins who died in WWII and are buried in Bayeux and I go over to France to pay my respects every year.

"I was only a child in Bognor then but I can remember it '“ people think no-one on the south coast was really hit by it all, but Portsmouth was practically flattened, people died in Bognor from the bombing and I can recall seeing Tangmere aerodrome in flames and there was also an airfield at Ford.

"For us as children I suppose it was quite exciting seeing planes being downed over our skies '“ we would rush to see the sites where they had crashed. But of course it was tragic that so many people lost their lives."

Ian Sumnall added that like many others participating, he was struck by the volume of people turning out on the day.

He said: "The service keeps growing year by year and people were all along the road, watching and clapping those taking part in the parade.

"It's always a poignant occasion but it is doubly so with the casualties which our forces still have.

"It is bringing together those with memories of previous conflicts with younger people who are of the same age as those who have been wounded or killed in action. It has become an intergenerational event for those paying their respects."

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